Reader’s Rides
BELOVED BABY
Builds Straight from Our EV Community
Breathing Life into an Iconic ELectric Camino
WORDS AND PHOTOS BY JAMIESON G. DURETTE
CUSTOM Digital Fab Systems motor mounts provided the foundation for Baby’s electric transformation and integration of the brushed DC Netgain Warp9 motor.
I have spent my life teaching students about materials, processes, and engineering and design. I have also tried to learn about fabrication methods and remain open to gaining knowledge from as many sources as I can find when the interest strikes me.
As a technology teacher, my appreciation for innovation and the opportunity to electrify a classic muscle car intersected at the right moment after a one-year deployment with my National Guard unit left me with the occasional “free time,” when I happened to fall down the rabbit hole of EV conversions. The White Zombie and John, “Plasmaboy” Wayland, NEDRA and John Metric, Zombie 222 and Mitch Medford, and EV West and Michael Bream were initially my idols, then mentors, and finally friends during my journey to converting a 1968 Chevrolet El Camino into a classic electric muscle car.
Prior to my deployment, I was the county coordinator for Electrathon America events in Harford County, Maryland, so I was already somewhat familiar with electric power systems and their application to transportation. What I had not considered, however, was their performance potential, nor how to go about removing the gasolineburning bits and replacing them with electricpowered parts (and doing it safely).
EV West’s project left a profound impact on me, and I was determined to embrace this fusion of tradition and innovation. Upon returning home, I delved into the world of EV conversions, eager to make my mark on the automotive landscape.